Learn group names (collective nouns) and feeling names (abstract nouns). Perfect for Class 5-7 students. Master special naming words.
1. Quick Difference
| Collective Noun | Abstract Noun |
|---|---|
| Names a GROUP of things | Names a FEELING or IDEA |
| Can see/touch the group | Cannot see/touch the feeling |
| Example: team, class, flock | Example: love, truth, beauty |
2. Collective Nouns - Group Names
| For People | For Animals | For Things | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| team (players) | flock (birds) | bunch (keys) | The team plays well. |
| class (students) | herd (cows) | bouquet (flowers) | Our class is noisy. |
| army (soldiers) | pack (wolves) | pile (books) | The army protects us. |
| crew (sailors) | school (fish) | set (tools) | The crew works hard. |
| band (musicians) | swarm (bees) | collection (stamps) | The band plays music. |
| family (relatives) | pride (lions) | cluster (stars) | My family is large. |
| committee (members) | troop (monkeys) | stack (plates) | The committee meets today. |
3. Abstract Nouns - Feelings & Ideas
| From Adjectives | From Verbs | Common Abstract Nouns | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| kind → kindness | obey → obedience | love, truth, beauty | Love is beautiful. |
| brave → bravery | grow → growth | honesty, courage, peace | Honesty is the best policy. |
| happy → happiness | choose → choice | freedom, wisdom, joy | Happiness comes from within. |
| wise → wisdom | know → knowledge | hope, faith, anger | Wisdom comes with age. |
| strong → strength | think → thought | patience, kindness, truth | Patience is a virtue. |
| beautiful → beauty | believe → belief | justice, equality, hope | Beauty lies in the eyes. |
| young → youth | laugh → laughter | childhood, friendship, sleep | Youth is full of energy. |
4. Special Collective Nouns
| Group | Collective Noun | Fun Fact |
|---|---|---|
| lions | pride | Lions are proud animals |
| elephants | herd | Elephants live in groups |
| wolves | pack | Wolves hunt together |
| fish | school | Fish swim together |
| bees | swarm | Bees fly together |
| birds | flock | Birds fly in formation |
| ants | colony | Ants build colonies |
5. How to Form Abstract Nouns
| From Adjective | Add | Abstract Noun | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| brave | -ry | bravery | He showed bravery. |
| kind | -ness | kindness | Her kindness helped me. |
| happy | -iness | happiness | Happiness is contagious. |
| free | -dom | freedom | We love our freedom. |
| child | -hood | childhood | Childhood memories are sweet. |
| friend | -ship | friendship | Friendship lasts forever. |
| wise | -dom | wisdom | Grandparents have wisdom. |
6. Quick Practice (5 Questions)
1. Identify: team (collective/abstract)
2. Find abstract noun: love, book, pen
3. Collective noun for lions?
4. Abstract noun from "brave"?
5. Identify: happiness, flock, class
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Wrong ❌ | Right ✅ | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| The team are playing. | The team is playing. | Collective noun as single unit |
| She has many beautifuls. | She has much beauty. | Beauty is abstract, not countable |
| A flock of sheeps. | A flock of sheep. | Sheep plural is sheep |
| His bravery are admired. | His bravery is admired. | Abstract nouns are singular |
| The committee argue. | The committee argues. | Committee as unit = singular verb |
📝 Practice Collective & Abstract Nouns
Test with our 20-question worksheet!
Download Nouns WorksheetIncludes answer key • Printable PDF
8. Memory Aids
Collective = Collection
Team, class, flock → Group of things together
Abstract = Can't Touch
Love, truth, beauty → Feelings you can't hold
Test for Abstract Noun:
Can you see it? No → Abstract
Can you touch it? No → Abstract
Exam Tip: Look for GROUP words → Collective
Look for FEELING words → Abstract
Look for -ness, -ity, -tion, -ment endings → Often Abstract
